Thread: Parents prepare to face daughter's accused killer in court

by TERESA WOODARD
WFAA
Posted on August 7, 2013 at 10:16 PM
Updated yesterday at 11:03 PM


Every morning before work, and every evening after work, Alan and Debra VanHoozer stop at the cemetery on Garland Road.

The headstone is just a few feet away from away busy street. It is inscribed with three names: Alan, Debra and Heather.

It's just not right that their daughter was the first to be buried.

"There's nothing worse... nothing worse a parent can go through," Alan VanHoozer said.

Heather VanHoozer died 11 months ago in a terrible crash on Centerville Road in Garland. She was 24 years old.

Police said Osvaldo Cerda, then 18, was drunk when he T-boned the car of Heather's boyfriend. According to the police report, even after the crash, a witness saw Cerda put a beer can to his mouth, then toss it down and crush it before running away.

Police caught him not far from the scene.

"He took our pride and joy. Heather was our life," Debra Van Hoozer said.

Cerda is expected to plead guilty to intoxication manslaughter on Thursday, and he is expected to be sentenced to 20 years in prison.

"Twenty years is the max," Debra said. "For what he did... he murdered our daughter, and he should be eligible for life. I think that needs to be changed."

But the VanHoozers want more change than that.

Cerda is an illegal immigrant with a criminal record. He had had three prior arrests for marijuana possession. This still-grieving mother and father can not understand why he had not been deported.

"That needs to be changed," Debra said.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement says arrests for marijuana do not immediately lead to deportation, especially if it involves a small amount. Each case is judged on an individual basis, the agency said.

When talking about Heather, both mother and father lit up. They described a unique family relationship where their daughter — a nursing student at Texas Woman's University — was always with them.

Alan broke down as he called Heather "the best daughter I could have." Through tears, he said: "Just couldn't have asked for a better child."

The VanHoozers simply want to know why Cerda's checkered past didn't stop him from stealing their future.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Paren...218776961.html

Illegal Immigrant Allowed to Remain in US Despite Arrests Accused of Drunk Driving Death

by Brandon Darby 8 Aug 2013, 1:42 PM PDT
breitbart.com

Allen and Debra VanHoozer are mourning the loss of their child, 24-year-old Heather, after an illegal immigrant who was not deported by U.S. authorities after a series of run-ins with law enforcement. The Mexican national was allowed to stay in the U.S. after numerous drug arrests, resulting in him allegedly killing the young woman by operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

U.S. authorities claim they do not routinely deport illegal aliens for marijuana offenses; apparently they do not routinely deport people for being in the U.S. illegally, either.

The VanHoozer family is now set to face the accused killer of their child in court. The young Mexican “Dreamer” was Osvaldo Cerda, 18, and he is expected to plead guilty to intoxication manslaughter, according to Houston’s KHOU News.

He faces a maximum sentence of twenty years if convicted of taking the young woman’s life, then allegedly taking a swig of his beer, crushing the can underfoot, and ultimately running away without assisting his victim.

KHOU News’ Teresa Woodard described Cerda as "an illegal immigrant with a criminal record. He had had three prior arrests for marijuana possession. This still-grieving mother and father can not understand why he had not been deported.”

Heather VanHoozer was a nursing student at Texas Woman’s University. "Alan broke down as he called Heather ‘the best daughter I could have,’" reports Woodard. "Through tears, he said: 'Just couldn't have asked for a better child.'"

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Governm...mericans-Child

Illegal Alien Kills Young American After US Officials Fail To Deport Him
Kristin Tate
August 10, 2013 10:50am PST

Osvaldo Cerda was an illegal alien who should have been deported from the United States. He had several run-ins with law enforcement here in America, but still was able to remain in the country.

Well, thanks to the failure of our “law enforcement” officers to enforce the law and have Cerda deported, he has killed a young American woman.

Cerda was driving a vehicle while heavily intoxicated. This resulted in the death of 24-year-old Heather VanHoozer. Heather’s parents, Allen and Debra, are completely devastated by the loss.

Here is what allegedly happened: Cerda killed Heather, then took a big gulp of his beer, crushed the can with his foot, than ran away with out helping the dying victim.

Cerda, the Mexican “dreamer”, will be pleading guilty to intoxication manslaughter. He could face up to twenty years if he is found guilty.

Great, then we get to pay for his punk while he is locked up on our soil!
All of this could have been avoided if he had just been deported after his earlier run-ins with law enforcement.

KHOU Houston said Cerda is an “illegal immigrant with a criminal record. He had had three prior arrests for marijuana possession. This still-grieving mother and father can not understand why he had not been deported.”

Heather wanted to be a nurse. She was a student at Texas Woman’s University.
http://www.mrconservative.com/2013/0...to-deport-him/